Similarities in Early China Compared to Other Ancient Civilizations

This essay provides a comparative analysis of early China's history with that of other ancient civilizations, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India. The essay begins by identifying commonalities such as the development around river valleys, which facilitated agriculture and served as a foundation for societal development. It then delves into specific similarities, such as the use of canals for irrigation, agricultural-based economies, and the prevalence of farming as a primary occupation. The essay also explores cultural exchanges, like trading practices, and the use of silk. The essay also highlights the role of local leaders under an emperor. The study also points out the similarities between the Chinese and Egyptian civilizations, mentioning natural barriers, direct irrigation, and the creation of paper. The essay concludes by emphasizing the shared characteristics and interconnectedness of these early societies, offering insights into their development and interactions.

Running head: QUESTION- ANSWER
QUESTION- ANSWER
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Author Note:

1QUESTION- ANSWER
Which features of early China’s history seem closest to developments in other
early civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India?
The ancient Chinese, Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Indian civilizations had certain
aspects in common. All four of these civilizations, fall under almost the similar timeline,
although in different places. The Mesopotamian civilization was the first civilization in the
history, which was then followed by other civilizations. Having been developed in different areas
and parts of the world, all these four civilizations had certain distinguishing characters, but along
with these distinct characteristics, all these four civilizations had certain elements in common,
though being hundreds miles apart from each other (Charvát, 2013). Therefore, in this essay, the
similarities that the Chinese civilization possess with the other civilizations will be discussed,
and analysed.
The concept of civilization had come into the picture with the Mesopotamian civilization,
at around 6000 years ago. The Mesopotamian civilization was developed between two rivers,
Tigris and Euphrates. Considering all the civilizations this is the basic aspect or the basic
similarity amongst all the civilizations. All the ancient civilizations had developed around the
rivers or in the valley of the rivers. The Chinese civilization was also developed between two
rivers, the Yangtze River and the Yellow river (Charvát, 2013). According to the historians, the
ancient civilization were developed between and around the rivers or the river valley because of
the regular supply of fresh water. The agriculture was the basic reason behind the development
of a civilization, and agriculture needed a regular supply of water, along with a fertile soil, which
is gained because of the flooding of the river. Therefore, this is the basic aspect of similarity
between the Chinese, and the Indian, Egyptian civilization. The Indian civilization was

2QUESTION- ANSWER
essentially known as the Indus Valley civilization as it was developed around the seven rivers, of
which the Indus River was the prime one. Also, the civilization of Egypt was developed around
the Nile River (Leick, 2009).
Therefore, the similar aspects between the two civilizations, the Chinese, and the
Mesopotamian, apart from being developed around the rivers are, both the civilizations had
created canals to link the rivers. The people of both the civilizations had understood that in order
to use the water of the river, which is easier because of its abundance, therefore, they had created
canals, in order to put the water into use. Secondly, the economy of both the civilizations were
developed depended upon the agriculture and farming. Thirdly, since the agriculture was the
basic or primary form of income, therefore, the popular and the only job option to the population
of\ both the civilizations was agriculture, hence, the people who had complied the population of
the civilizations were farmers by nature (McKay, 2007). More importantly, the rule of the
emperor was made through the smaller cities, which was common only across these two
civilizations. Also, in both the civilizations the peasants were found to be staying in a small clay
or wooden homes, which was not common in the other civilizations.
Along with the Mesopotamian civilization, the Chinese civilization was found to be
similar with the Indian civilization as well. Firstly, both the these civilizations were cradled
around the river valleys, which leads to the second common factor of agriculture and framing to
be the most practiced economic option. Most of the people of these two civilization were
involved with aspects of farming, in one way or the other. The act of farming incorporates a
number of conducts and deeds, and most of the people of these two civilization were involved in
these various forms of agricultural activities. Another common point or ground of similarity
between these two civilizations are, there had been another form of occupation present, trading,

3QUESTION- ANSWER
and many of the people had to move around different and various parts of the world, for the
purposes of trading (Leick, 2009). There are many names mentioned by different historians who
had went to India from China, for the purposes of trading, and trader had been to China from
India as well for the same purposes, and it is found that many people who had travelled for the
purposes of trading had continued their stay as they found the culture of the respected places to
be enthusiastic and enigmatic. There had been similarities in the aspects of culture as well. The
people of both the culture found to be wearing colourful clothes. The dresses were colourful and
were engraved either by jewels or by thread (McKay, 2007). Also, another important thing is,
people of both the civilizations, had a knack for silk, and the production of sulk and the use of
the same in making clothes were found in both the cultures. Lastly, the kings or the emperors
ruled through the local leaders, which was very much distinct to these two civilizations
(Shushan, 2009). The power was not centralized, rather it was localized, as the regions were
ruled by the local leaders, who therefore, were ruled by the emperors.
However, as per the claims of the historians, the Chinese civilizations and the Egypt
civilization were very common. Firstly, both the civilizations were characterized with a number
of natural barriers and these barriers had kept the civilizations safe from the attack of the people
of the tribes. Secondly, though there were canals present that create a link with the rivers,
however, water to the crop filed was directly irrigated from the river (McKay, 2007). It was not
brought from the canals. Another very important and the most exquisite point of similarity that
both these civilizations include are, both these civilizations created paper. Though the elements
that had been used in order to make the paper were different, but both these civilizations are
regarded as the founder of paper (Shushan, 2009). Also, the factors or the practices of patriarchy
was in practice from the ancient period of time. Only one woman ruler had ruled, in the entire

4QUESTION- ANSWER
history of these two civilizations, and the fathers were in charge of the home, since the days of
establishment of the civilizations.

5QUESTION- ANSWER
References:
Charvát, P. (2013). The Birth of the State: Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China.
Karolinum Press.
Leick, G. (2009). Historical dictionary of Mesopotamia (Vol. 26). Scarecrow Press.
McKay, J. P. (2007). A history of world societies (Vol. 3). Bedford/St. Martin's.
Shushan, G. (Ed.). (2009). Conceptions of the afterlife in early civilizations: universalism,
constructivism and near-death experience (Vol. 6). A&C Black.